Although about 10,000 Lightnings were built, fewer than half a dozen are flying today and not many more exist at all. With two of the same 1,000 horsepower V-12 engines which powered the P-40 Warhawk (Allison V-1710).

First delivered in 1941, the P-38 went on to be one of the most respected fighters in the Pacific theater of WWII.

A P-38 was responsible for shooting down the bomber carrying Japan's general Yamamoto on 18 April 1943.